Photography - MINNESOOOTA! is a subsection of Photography

MINNESOOOTA!

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If you haven’t ever been to Minnesota, then here is all you need to know:  

• It’s always frigid.  If you are not careful, your tongue might get stuck to a lamp post when you walk past one

• We fish and hunt all year long

• We are pretty much just Canada

• Fargo is in Minnesota

Just kidding.  The truth is, Minnesota is one of the best places to live.  You just have to get used to a few, minor peculiarities, like

• You drink pop (not soda)

• “That’s different” is definitely not a compliment

• “You betcha” is always a good response, whereas “uff da” may not be

Index

• Winter Impressions

• Summer Impressions

• Fall Impressions

WINTER IMPRESSIONS

Since Minnesota is legendary for its extreme cold, why not start by admiring the beauty of Minnesota in the winter?

Ice Pane:  Captured on the banks of partially frozen Lake Superior at Grand Marais, on a late afternoon in February (2019)

Candy Ice:  Ice blocks, sprinkled with fine snow, on the shore of Lake Superior just north of Two Harbors (2015)

Amber Ice:  Ice blocks on the banks of Lake Superior at Grand Marais, captured in a magical twilight (2019)

Crispy Cold, Crispy Clear:  A man takes a stroll on frozen Lake Superior north of Grand Marais (2015)

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White Frost:  Closer to home, at Maplewood Nature Center on a cold, overcast morning.  Not my favorite winter day, but it has its own enchanting beauty (2012)

A Hoar Post:  High humidity and low temperature usually do not go hand in hand.  But when they do, then you have hoarfrost.  As the fog crystallizes on surfaces, it creates beautiful images.  Taken on the same day as above, at Maplewood Nature Center (2012)

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A Hoar Fence:  This is not barbed wire, rather a regular chicken wire mesh onto which the fog has crystallized as ice. Maplewood Nature Center (2012)

Hoar Forest:  A somewhat eerie, white landscape at the neighborhood Battle Creek Park (2012)

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Spooky Winter Forest:  Taken on the same day at the neighborhood Battle Creek Park (2012)

Pine Cone:  At the neighborhood Battle Creek Park (2012)

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Frozen Waterfalls:  Minnehaha Falls in Minnehaha Park, Minneapolis (2017)

Frosting on the Top:  Minnehaha Park, Minneapolis (2017)

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SUMMER IMPRESSIONS

Considering Minnesota's reputation for having an extremely frigid climate you'd be surprised to find out how green Minnesota is from May to October.  This is the most frequent comment from first-time Minnesota visitors, who happened to have flown in during those months.  What surprises them is the "green island" they see as the plane descends.   

Green Forest:  One of many, many hiking trails up North Minnesota to practice shinrin-yoku all day long, and all by yourself, if you so desire

Cool Your Heels:  Along the way, you'll come across a lonely creek to col your heels, have a light snack and enjoy some soothing water music before you move on full of energy in mind and body (2013)

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Hay Bales in Bemidji:  For a while, I was obsessed with (photographing) hay bales.  Then one day, on a road trip from Bemidji to Grand Marais, there was the picture perfect setting.  Lucky me! (2010).  BTW, Bemidji is the alleged birthplace of Paul Bunyan and is the self-proclaimed "curling capital" of the US.  There you can see a huge statue of Paul Banyon and his Babe the Blue Ox. 

Geese on the Fly:  While I was engrossed composing my hay bale photo, I was distracted by a commotion in the sky.  So I had to capture the trio first before going back to my beloved hay bales in Bemidji (2010)

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Hay Bales Close Up:  Finally I got my hay bale to the full.  Now I am cured of my hay bale fever Bemidji (2010)

Split Rock Lighthouse:  We had spent a whole day at the Split Rock State Park, located halfway between the Twin Cities and Grand Marais, and throughout the day I had been taking pictures of the lighthouse.  Finally at dusk, I got it!  I just wish there were some clouds to give the sky some color at sunset.  But overall this is not a bad shot (2012)

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Grand Marais!!:  Not much of a town with just a handful of small hotels and a Main Street, on the shores of Lake Superior up north in Minnesota.  It is a gateway to hiking in the north, and as such our annual must-go place.  If you time it right then you'll find the entire town practically to yourself.  They have some great food.  Sven and Ole's may not be one of them but it is certainly worth a visit (2010)

Grand Marais Lighthouse:  I remember interrupting my dinner at "Angry Trout", running out to take the picture at the exact moment of sunset and then returning to continue with my dinner (2010)

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Arriving Late:  Dusk at Grand Marais on Lake Superior (2010)

Reflections:  On Lake Superior at Grand Marais (2012)

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The Sea and the Moon:  Full moon on Lake Superior at Grand Marais.  A decidedly difficult scene with no backdrop and no interesting front object to frame the picture.  But it turned out pretty good, I think (2012)

Sunset at Grand Marais #1:  Taken with my iPhone (2016)

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Sunset at Grand Marais #2:  Taken with my iPhone (2016)

Grand Portage Impressions:  Grand portage National Monument on the north shore of Lake Superior, and at the Canadian border, preserves one of British Empire's four main fur trading centers in North America (2014)

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FALL IMPRESSIONS

Flying Leaves:  On a crisp and sunny autumn day, the fallen maple leaves float motionless on St. Croix River at Wild River State Park and give the impression of flying against a blue sky (2012)

Leaving Leaves:  The denuded tree looks on as the leaves float by to where they must,  St. Croix River at (2012)

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